At the bar or at a client meeting, some smartphones can spark conversations. If you’re one of those attention seekers who likes your phone to do the talking, Vivo’s new V25 should be on your radar. A
lot of the conversation is likely to centre around a unique colour changing design that Vivo has made one of the key selling points of this mid-ranger. But is there more to this device than just bling?

Monday morning blues

If you do buy this phone, opt for the Surfing Blue colour variant. It also comes in an ‘Elegant Black’ but that doesn’t pack the same visual appeal. Vivo calls it Colour Changing Fluorite AG Glass Design. It’s essentially a colour changing glass back that produces different shades of blue as it interacts with the sunlight or other light sources. This cobalt-like blue is quite bold and not for those who like to keep things subtle. The device feels good in your hand with a premium build. We like the placement of the rear camera lenses and at 186 gm, it’s the perfect heft.

A dependable cam

There are two elements in the camera mix that make a big impression. The first – a 50MP selfie shooter that scores in most environments. And yes, you can maximise the beautification effects to look like a different, almost unreal version of yourself. Vivo adds OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) to its 64MP primary lens. It impacts lowlight photography as well as videos. Images shot on the 8MP ultra-wide lens are average while you’re unlikely to use the 2MP macro lens much. We think it’s better for smartphone brands to choose a telephoto lens (where the cost constraints allow it) over a macro cam. The V25 has it’s task cut out against rivals from brands like OnePlus and the prier Google Pixel 6a.

Mid-range class

Vivo has opted for the MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor that’s not the fastest in class. We checked out the 8GB/128GB version, there’s also a 12GB/256GB variant in the mix. The device clocked up a modest score of 2033 in our Geekbench benchmark test (multi-core). We still think it should work for most average users who are not into graphic intense gaming. The 4500 mAh battery won’t let you down either; it should comfortably last a day for most users. Vivo has bundled a 44W charger in the box that should take your device from 1 to 100% in just over an hour

Beyond the bling

The Vivo V25 lands in a highly competitive segment where brands like OnePlus Nord and Nothing have compelling options. Vivo’s Custom Funtouch OS is still a tad too busy for us while the teardrop on the immersive 6.44-inch (2404 x 1080 pixels) display looks quite days. The V25’s biggest appeal is style and its cool colour changing tricks. That aside, the device also scores with a solid primary rear camera lens and a dependable battery.

The Vivo V25 5G costs Rs 27,999 (8GB/128GB) and Rs 31,999 (12GB/256GB) and comes in Surfing Blue and Elegant Black. ICICI, SBI and HDFC Bank card holders can avail a flat discount of INR 2,500